Mat drier



March 12, 1935.

A. J. HARTLEY MAT DRIER Filed Jan. 16, 1933 Patented Mar. 12, 1935 7 l eUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAT DRIER Andrew J. Hartley, Janesville,Wis. Application January 16, 1933, Serial No. 652,066

3 Claims. (01. 34-16) My invention relates to devices for drying matsends has a hook-form arm 15, adapted to catch used in casting stereotypeprinting plates, which or latch into an eye or loop 16, fixed to theloose are in a moist onsemi-wet state. These mats are or free end of theouter asbestos blanket 17. applied to the outer cylindrically curvedexterior Such free end is shown fixed between opposite 5 surface orperiphery of a hollow drying drum and metal strips, 12. The rock shafthas applied to it 5 an object of my invention is to effect the close acoil spring 18, which tends to swing the hook conformation of the mat tothe curved surface of upward and away from the free edge of the outerthe drum or support, and another object is to blanket so as to exert adrawing or pulling force accomplish that by simple and efiicient meansupon it which causes the outer blanket snugly or and to promote orfacilitate the manipulations closely to press the mat smoothly againstthe 10 required to be performed, all as hereinafter more inner blanket.The rock shaft has at one end a fully set forth in the description ofthat embodiank arm by Which to rock it against the ment of my inventionwhich I have selected for action of the spring 18, to release the hookfrom illustration thereof. I the eye or loop and thus free the hithertoclamped My invention consists in whatever is described mat. 15 by or isincluded within the terms or scope of the The other end of the outerblanket, as has been appended claims. I I explained, is secured to theperiphery of a spring In the drawing: roller 20 (which may be similar tothe familiar Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of enough of a shaderoller) which when the loose end of the 20 mat drier to illustrate anembodiment of my outer blanket is freed from the pull of the hook 20invention; arm, automatically rolls or winds the then loose Fig. 2 is adetail view in perspective of a portion outer blanket upon itself,freeing and exposing thereof with especial reference to the devices forthe mat for removal and exposing the inner clamping the moist mat uponthe periphery of blanket for the application of another mat.

the drying drum. To limit or stop the swing of the hook or latch 25Briefly described, the embodiment of my into unlatching positionby theaction of the spring vention shown in the drawing is a hollow drum onthe rock shaft 14, a suitable stop may be prowith a curved exterior withtwo concentric as vided such as a collar 21, fixed to the rock shaftbestos blankets or sheets, the inner one of which and having a finger22, situated to engage the is in a fixed position and the outer is fixedat side of the adjacent shaft bearing 13. 30 one end on a line parallelwith the drum axis and As will be evident from what -I have already atthe other end is free and is engageable by a said, my invention may beembodied in construcspring-actuated hook-form catch device which I tionsdiffering from that shown in the drawing draws and holds the outer onetightly upon the and described in detail and the scope of my promatinterposed between the two blankets, so that tection therefore, extendsto and includes struc- 35 the mat is subjected to uniform pressurethroughtures of various forms but embodying the same out its extent dueto the force exerted by the principle. spring in drawing or pulling theouter blanket What I claim is: upon the drum. The fixed end of theouter 1. A mat drier comprising a mat-supporting blanket is attached tothe periphery of a stationsurface and a flexible mat clamping member and4.0 arily supported spring-actuated roller which releasable meansexerting tension on such memtends to wind the outer blanket upon it sothat ber between opposite edges thereof over a mat when the latched orhooked end is released, the lying between it and such supportingsurface, blanket will automatically be wound upon such said meansincluding a hook-form latch and an roller and thereby the dried matreleased and at eye engageable therewith connected with one 45 the sametime the outer blanketwill be convenof the edges of said member a rockshaft jouriently taken care of ready for further use with nalledparallel with said edge and a spring acting another mat to be dried. onsaid rock shaft to cause the latch to exert pull Describing in detailwhat is shown in the draw- 0n aid y ing, the hollow drying drum isdesignated 10, 2. A mat drier comprising a mat-supporting 50 and theasbestos blanket fixed to the periphery surface and a flexiblemat-clamping member and thereof is designated 11, its opposite endsbeing releasable means exerting tension on such memsuitably secured tothe drum. Projecting from ber between opposite edgesthereof over a matthe drum, at opposite sides, are spaced apart bearlying between itandsuch supporting surface, and

ings 13, for a rock shaft 14, which between its a stationarily supportedwinding roller to which 55 said member is connected and upon which itmay be wound when it is free from such tension-exerting means.

3. A mat drier comprising a convexly curved, mat-supporting surface, aflexible mat-clamping member secured along one side adjacent to saidsurface, and adapted to reach therefrom over such convexly-curvedsurface in contact with a mat thereon and having its opposite edge free,when not in clamping position, and means for temporarily securing suchfree edge against the matsupporting surface, such securing meansincluding means to exert tension on said flexible member in a directionsubstantially tangential to such curved surface.

ANDREW J. HARTLEY.

